2017–18 KK Crvena zvezda season


The 2017–18 season is the 73rd Crvena zvezda season in the existence of the club. The team has been playing in the Basketball League of Serbia, in the Adriatic League and in the Euroleague.

Overview

During the summer of 2017, the head coach Dejan Radonjić didn't sign new contract, and the club parted ways with no less than eleven players, including key figures in the last couple of years such as Marko Simonović, captain Luka Mitrović, Charles Jenkins, Stefan Jović, Ognjen Kuzmić and Marko Gudurić. Young prospect Dušan Alimpijević was named as the head coach. Depleted roster was reinforced by James Feldeine and Taylor Rochestie, veterans Pero Antić and Marko Kešelj and a quartet of young players: Mathias Lessort, Nikola Radičević, Stefan Janković and Nikola Jovanović. Zvezda also brought in Dragan Apić, Dejan Davidovac and Stefan Lazarević from its development team FMP. Half of rebuilt team hasn't previously played a single game in EuroLeague.
During October 2017, the Zvezda won six out of ten played games. The Adriatic League season opening started with three wins in a row. In the EuroLeague they won on two home games over FC Barcelona and Maccabi.
Breaking with defense oriented philosophy of Radonjić era, the staple of Zvezda's game became 3 point shot. In December 2017. roster was further strengthened with combo guard Dylan Ennis, while Apić and Lazarević got loaned back to FMP. Last player to arrive was Slovenian national team center Alen Omić, while underperforming Radičević parted ways with the club. Zvezda finished first in the regular part of ABA league, having 19 wins and 3 losses, and reached finals by defeating Mornar 2-1 in series, but lost 3-1 in final series to Budućnost. Defeat meant that club will not participate in Euroleague next year, which triggered downsizing. Management terminated contract with Dylan Ennis and Milko Bjelica, and reinforced squad with Filip Čović and young prospect Aleksa Radanov from FMP. Poor start in domestic KLS forced coach Alimpijević to resign, and his assistant Milenko Topić took over as interim head coach. Modified team managed to win the Superleague title, beating FMP in the finals, but the season was generally deemed to be unsuccessful due to failure to secure a spot in Euroleague.

Players

Squad information

Depth chart

Players with multiple nationalities

Youth players

;Under a contract
;Registered for the Adriatic League
Position#PlayerMoving from
PF Jonah Bolden1 FMP
SF10 Branko LazićRe-sign
SF4 Marko Kešelj Oostende
C/PF16 Stefan Janković Lakeland Magic
PF/C32 Nikola Jovanović Westchester Knicks
PG5 Nikola Radičević Real Betis Energía Plus
SG14 James Feldeine Panathinaikos Superfoods
SF/PG7 Dejan Davidovac FMP
SG/SF11 Stefan Lazarević FMP
PF/C15 Dragan Apić FMP
PF/C26 Mathias Lessort Nanterre 92
PG/SG22 Taylor Rochestie Lokomotiv Kuban
PF/C12 Pero Antić Fenerbahçe Doğuş
PG31 Dylan Ennis Mega Bemax
C23 Alen Omić Hapoel Jerusalem
G/SF11 Aleksa Radanov FMP
PG3 Filip Čović FMP

Source: ,

Players Out

Notes:

Technical Staff

Source:

Technical Staff changes

Kit


Pre-season and friendlies

;Crete Heraklion – 2nd International Basketball Tournament

Competitions

Overall

Overview

Adriatic League

Regular season

Results by round

Matches

Playoffs

EuroLeague

Regular season

Results by round

Matches

Source:

Serbian Super League

League table (Group A)

Results by round

Matches

Playoffs

Radivoj Korać Cup

Source:

Adriatic Supercup

Crvena zvezda had canceled their participation at the Supercup, due to their previously scheduled Euroleague tournament, which was held in the same period.

Individual awards

EuroLeague

;MVP of the Round
RoundPlayerEfficiency
26 James Feldeine32

Adriatic League

;MVP of the Round
RoundPlayerEfficiency
1 Mathias Lessort30
7 Milko Bjelica35
SF3 Ognjen Dobrić23
F2 Alen Omić27

;MVP of the Month
MonthPlayer
November 2017 Milko Bjelica

;Ideal Starting Five
PositionPlayer
PG Taylor Rochestie

Serbian League

Statistics

Adriatic League

EuroLeague

Serbian Super League

Radivoj Korać Cup

Head coaches records

Updated: